Shorts 2: My Own Private Idaho (1991) and the Henriad

Are you interested in an early 90s indie film that has some Shakespearean elements and has also become a queer cult classic? Let’s all just assume the answer is yes here.

In this episode, I revisit the 1991 film My Own Private Idaho, which some people claim is a loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry IV plays, and that’s true…ish.

If you decide to watch because of the Shakespearean elements, then stay for an interesting story performed movingly by a young River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves.

We’ll get a little into the plot of the movie, how it involves Shakespeare and how much the Shakespeare bits even count. Then we’ll consider the emotional core of both the Henry plays and this movie.

Season two is drawing closer! One more short to go before kicking off with full-length episodes again.

Further watching

My Own Private Idaho (1991)

Credit where credit is due

Podcast art by ⁠Halie Branson⁠

Music recording by ⁠josdvg⁠